Native spinach spotted on the shores of Smiths Lake
January 7th, 2009 by trinatune
Ever since I first read about Warrigal Greens or native spinach, I’ve been on the lookout for its green, semi succulent leaves.
Surprisingly, during my holiday last week, I found it growing all over the extremely rocky shores of Smiths Lake. The leaves are quite fleshy and slightly arrow shaped with small raised bumps that help prevent the plant from drying out.
After identifying the plant online, I lightly blanched some leaves for about five minutes to make sure all the toxicity was removed. If eaten raw, the leaves and stems can be slightly toxic due to their high oxalate concentration. To remove these oxalates, blanching is recommended and make sure you discard the water after use.
Whilst cooking, the leaves released a strong smell of the salty lake they were growing next to but they tasted surprisingly bland like English Spinach only a little juicier. I think this plant would make a great addition to any recipe that requires spinach, not to mention my edible garden.
Warrigal Greens have quite a history, originally eaten by Australia’s aboriginals, then later by Captain Cook and his crew to stave off scurvy and now by restaurants as a native bush food ingredient.
Unfortunately, I didn’t take a sample for my own garden because I was heading up to Bellingen for a week after Smiths Lake. I really want to try and propagate this plant. Has anyone seen it growing wild in Sydney, if so where?
……You can buy seeds from Green Harvest. http://www.greenharvest.com.au/
Thanks for the reminder. I had forgotten about Native Spinach. I’m planning an ornamental but still edible perennial garden for my front yard. This would be a perfect inclusion.
I wonder if the Aboriginal people cooked it and if so how?
[...] month back I wrote about finding native spinach at Smiths Lakes and I was annoyed with myself for not taking a clipping to plant back in my garden. Ever since, I [...]
Hey, I think theres a patch of the spinach high up in the Parsley Bay gully, Vaucluse. Right next to the steps on the way up to Hopetoun Ave.
Judging from the photo you sent me, sure looks like it.
I have seen it in many areas around Narrabeen Lake.
It has also turned up in my garden (I live fairly near Smiths Lake) possibly from a birds bum.
It has small flowers on at the moment and I am wondering whether to eat now or wait for some seeds.